The dedication of Sal Viscuso to the craft of acting can be dated to a singular evening in 1967. A college freshman, he happened upon a teleplay of Ronald Ribman's CBS Playhouse: The Final War of Olly Winter (1967) and was so inspired by Ivan Dixon's Emmy-winning rendition of the title role that he entered the drama department the very next day, later explaining, "I felt that there I had found my family." He earned his BA from the University of California at Davis, then went on to study with Olympia Dukakis at NYU School of the Arts, from which he graduated with an MFA.
Opportunities presented themselves rapidly, and Sal made his film debut in the classic The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). An introduction to Burt Metcalfe, associate producer of the iconic series M*A*S*H (1972), led to his move to Los Angeles, and soon Sal was a regular on NBC's sitcom The Montefuscos (1975). He was an off-screen loudspeaker announcer (as well as various other characters) on M*A*S*H (1972); appeared in Gene Wilder's homage to 1920's Hollywood, The World's Greatest Lover (1977); improvised in Robert Altman's Three Women (1977); and played multiple parts on the beloved Barney Miller (1975) (one of which was written especially for him by the show's creator, Danny Arnold).
He was also to feature in what TIME magazine has rated as one of the "Top 100 TV shows of all time," Susan Harris's Soap (1977). His vocationally challenged Father Timothy Flotsky (and the show's depiction of one of the first openly gay characters on network television), created instant controversy that attracted 19 million viewers to the series premiere. Shortly thereafter, Sal commenced his professional association with the Bancroft/Brooks combine of talent, first appearing in Anne Bancroft's Fatso (1980), and then in Mel Brooks' Spaceballs (1987), about which he has remarked, "I continue to get more attention from that project than from anything I've ever done!"
2022
as Judge
2018
as Mr. Phillips
2018
as Anton
2013
as Dr. Don Dorn
2012
as Clark
2009
as Tommy Valentine
2008
as Walter
2001
as Joey
2001
as Sports Writer Mike
2001
as Father Dedice
2000
as Arthur Ryan
1999
as Sal Avelino
1999
1996
1996
as Jail Guard
1996
as Matthew Zeigler
1995
as Bar Teacher
1995
1994
as Dennis
1994
as Mr. Weller
1993
as Dick Douglas
1993
as Phil
1993
as Bobby Bigmouth
1992
as Monk (voice)
1990
as Hal Zareth
1990
1990
as Policeman (uncredited)
1989
1988
as Mr. Lloyd
1987
1987
as Radio Operator
1986
1986
as News stand Attendant
1986
1986
1985
as Sergeant Redmond
1985
1985
as Paul Bellini
1984
1984
as Sam Olan
1983
as Wingo
1983
as Coach Roy
1982
1982
1982
as Richard Jacobs
1982
as Richard Grasso
1982
as Keppler
1982
1982
1981
as Judge Connor Stewart
1981
1981
1980
1980
as Vito
1979
1978
1978
as Prosecutor
1977
as Assistant Director
1977
as Doug Ketchum
1977
as Mark Carlson
1977
as Charley Cole
1977
as Father Tim
1977
as Tim Flotsky
1975
as Nunzio Montefusco
1975
as Brenner
1975
as Thomas Vitella
1975
as Joseph Beatty
1975
as Victor Renaldi
1974
as Ptl. O'Keefe
1972
as Patient John
1972
as Sergeant Raymond McGill